This is a collection of 3 or 4 short stories written in the Dr. Horrible universe. Overall, it's an engaging collection that helps to flesh out the chThis is a collection of 3 or 4 short stories written in the Dr. Horrible universe. Overall, it's an engaging collection that helps to flesh out the characters of the 45 minute musical brilliantly.

Sometimes humour can translate brilliantly from one format to another, and sometimes it doesn't quite as well. Personally, I'd say Bachelor Boys was iSometimes humour can translate brilliantly from one format to another, and sometimes it doesn't quite as well. Personally, I'd say Bachelor Boys was in the latter category. It is a funny book, but a lot of the humour of The Young Ones worked best in it's original live action format. While the book gets a good laugh now and then, there is a missing element that the show has in spades.

But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book.

Actually, I think the book is a brilliant addition to the world - so to speak - of the show, letting us see a bit more of the day to day goings on. Vyvyan's advice on how to cheat on exams and being caught out by mixing up the tapes he's saved his notes on with his own music tapes. Neil's rather pathetic attempts to get the other guys into helping out with the household tasks. Rik's need to be seen as an ultra left-wing radicialist and Mike's more subtle 'cool' humour are great to read. The real issue is the book - and a lot of the humour - is very much a product of it's time period, and thus can see very... different

At the beginning of the book there is a Four Words. An apology by Neil. In it he simply states: "I'm really really sorry.". This made me laugh beyond all belief and certainly sets you in the right mind for reading through. But this is a book for the fans, not really one that anyone could pick up.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is better known as the television show that shot Joss Whedon to King of Geekdom. Before the show, however, there was the moBuffy the Vampire Slayer is better known as the television show that shot Joss Whedon to King of Geekdom. Before the show, however, there was the movie, which is actually really bad. This book is based on that movie. Well, technically it's based more on Whedon's rather excellent script, with elements of the movie added to it so that there is a clear connection. How does the book rate?

Well, it's a short read, and quite enjoyable. Using the script means that the wittier dialogue Whedon wrote is in place, making it feel a little less dated. The book shows Buffy's transformation from a Cordelia like character to the Slayer we know and love. Accompanying her is Pike, an odd mix of Xander, Oz, and Spike, who serves as Buffy's eventual partner in slaying and love interest. There is also Merrick, her Watcher, who is completely badass and while I have amazing amounts of love for Giles, I cannot help but wish we got a little of Merrick in show somehow. The connection between him and Buffy was very real, and it made the events that happen hit hard.

So is the book better than the movie? Actually, I'd say yeah. Don't get me wrong, while the movie is bad, it's also enjoyable. But the book stands stronger by having the elements of the original script that help to explain the whole Slayer and Watcher thing a lot clearer, and help to give more development to the characters. I'm not going to say this is a must read for fans of the show, but I would recommend giving it a glance over, if you're curious as to how our Slayer was prior to Sunnydale. ...more

The second volume of Yotsuba&! continues to make it clear to me that this is hands down the cutest manga that I will ever read in my life. And I'mThe second volume of Yotsuba&! continues to make it clear to me that this is hands down the cutest manga that I will ever read in my life. And I'm perfectly okay with that, because it's absolutely adorable. As a character, Yotsuba is refreshingly innocent and thus open to all kinds of experiences. Within the second volume she makes friends with a friend of Ena's called Muira, who is initally quite unpleasant to Yotsuba. Yotsuba doesn't care, every friend of Ena's is a friend of hers. It's exactly this open attitude to just about anything she comes across that makes Yotsuba so endearing to a reader.

The tagline of the manga continues to be: "enjoy everything!" With Yotsuba around to guide us, I can hardly see how we could fail to do so. Lead on, Yotsuba, I'll happily continue to follow your adventures! ...more

Yotsuba&! is actually a manga I found out about through figure pictures. I know, an odd way to find out about new (to yourself that is) manga, butYotsuba&! is actually a manga I found out about through figure pictures. I know, an odd way to find out about new (to yourself that is) manga, but I just kept seeing the figure of this cute little green-haired girl and wondered where it came from. (With any luck, I'll track down my own little figure at a good price)

The first volume of the manga introduces us to our titular character, her Daddy, Daddy's friend Jumbo, and the next door neighbours. And quite frankly I can't think of another way to describe the feeling of reading this first volume other than it's like being smothered with adorableness. As a character Yotsuba reminds me a little of the character Lilo in that she'd very endearingly weird. Like a little kid should be.

She's so enthusiastic about everything and seems to love just learning about the world around her. And while she might not always get it right, she keeps trying and it's so hard to see her efforts and not stop and grin to yourself. If there isn't a mascot that represents that irresistible urge to grin? Yotsuba should become it; because that's exactly the feeling you get during this first volume.

I really can't wait to check out the rest of the volumes that are available, and see how Yotsuba takes to life in her new home, and how she brings in her neighbours and probably everyone else around her, into these daily adventures. (Because it might just be everyday life, but every day is an adventure to Yotsuba.)

I would recommend this manga to everyone. A kid looking for their first manga, an old pro who has read nearly everything out there, and even just the casual fan. This really is the type of story that can be for everyone.

Kamikaze Girls is one of my favourite movies, and I was really pleased to find out that the original novel of it was available in English. I do knowKamikaze Girls is one of my favourite movies, and I was really pleased to find out that the original novel of it was available in English. I do know about the manga, but I had heard mixed reviews on that, and I really wanted to read the novel if I could. The novel is by author Novala Takemoto who is apparently well known for being into the Lolita subculture in Japan. From what I can tell, this is the only one of his novels available in English. I also discovered - through Google - that there is apparently a sequel to Kamikaze Girls but I haven't found out any details about it.

What did I think of the novel? I think it makes a great movie. Okay, so that's not very fair. I did really enjoy my experience reading this. Momoko's refreshingly blunt way of stating everything around her, and then going into quite lyrical language when describing Rocco, or Lolita, or the process of embroidery; well, it makes for a very interesting contrast. She's so detached from the wider world by her own choice, that to see that she does have passions and interests saves her from becoming one of those characters who is too blunt to really like. The growing friendship with Ichigo, someone who is the complete opposite of this rather closed off person, is really touching to read about and... Yeah, okay, I kind of don't want to find out anything about the sequel because I'd rather stay in a world where these two stay in each others lives and nothing complicates that.

Ichigo is actually my favourite of the two girls. I really love this tough as nails Yanki biker girl who has this very soft side and extreme loyalty to her friends. Her sense of morals, or maybe code of conduct would work better, provides another good contrast to Momoko, who would happily sell her own family if it meant she would be able to afford more from Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. (I was quite pleased to learn this is a real brand, and have to admit some of their stuff is very nice. Not particularly my taste, but nice all the same.) While she initally seems to just force her friendship on Momoko, I can see it from her point of view: she sees this isolated girl, who seems to respond well when she talks to her. Maybe she's just quite shy and needs help making friends. Okay, I'll be her friend. There is a logic to Ichigo's thoughts, even if she does seem to jump around them a lot.

It's a coming of age story that's decked out in flouncy frills and kamikaze jackets. I enjoyed the focus being on the shared friendship of the girls, and how that goes from barely knowing to willing to rescue the other. You don't at any point feel like this is an act by either of the two, which is refreshing and there's no real love story involved. Implied feelings that are ignored for the sake of friendship, but there's no guy getting in the way as there might be in others stories. It moves along at its own pace, and does its own thing, and I respect that.

So yes, I did enjoy this book. I just... enjoy the movie more. It's one of those stories that suits a visual style a lot more, in my opinion. That being said? I'd likely recommend this to other people, and I will probably end up re-reading it at some point. It's a fun read, and a nice way to just relax. Perhaps I'll do it decked out in frills.

... Nah, I wouldn't suit that flouncy stuff. Best leave it to Momoko....more

I think this is going to be the year I re-read a lot of different series. I blame the awesome Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. OdI think this is going to be the year I re-read a lot of different series. I blame the awesome Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Oddly enough, despite this being the inspiration for deciding to re-read series, it was not the one I chose to start with. No, that honor instead goes to Eoin Colfer'sArtemis Fowl series, starting with the first book, simply titled: Artemis Fowl.

Artemis Fowl is a 12 year old Irish boy, son of the Fowl family, known in the criminal underworld as criminal family who are always successful. Artemis himself is a prodigy, 12 years old but speaking with both the vocabulary and authority of an adult perhaps three times his own age. He is on a hunt, to find proof of the People - fairies - and plans to exploit them for the reserves of gold they are said to keep. The Fowl family motto is; Aurum Potestas Est. However, it is not just for the sake of power that Artemis is searching for the gold...

As you might have guessed from the summary, Artemis is a compelling protagonist, but he is actually sharing the stage with Holly Short, first female LEPrecon officer, who happens to be an elf. Holly is very likely my favourite character of the series, mostly because she always seems so very done with all the antics going on around her. Her being the first female officer - and thus subject to the Smurfette Principle - is actually deconstructed within her first few chapters. Her commanding officer - Julius Root, badass extraordinare - straight up states that she will be judged more harshly because people are waiting on her to fail, and frankly he would rather that didn't happen. It's a nice look at how that trope would actually work.

Supporting cast also gives us Butler, Artemis' bodyguard, and Juliet, who is Butler's sister. The Butler family has long served the Fowl family, and Butler in particular has been assigned to Artemis since the boy was born. They are as close as friends, with Butler being the only father figure in Artemis' life at the current moment, even if the man does have to obey his orders. Juliet is a typical teenage girl. albeit one with a high taste for wrestling and a great interest in trying her new moves out on nearly anyone. We also have Foaly on the side of the People - a centuar who is greatly interested in Science and seems to be single-handly upgrading and pushing the tech of the LEP into the future.

The story of the book is a kidnap and ransom one and it plays out very well. Artemis' plans keep him one step ahead of the People for the majority of the time, but he is not infallible, and cannot plan for everything. When something happens that he does not expect, we see him thinking fast on his feet, proving that his intellect is something almost scary to behold. That being said, when he does plan? He plans for damn near everything, even including extreme measures that you wouldn't think possible. It's amazing to read.

I first read this book when it came out and enjoyed it. Now, being older and (in theory) wiser, with more expanded tastes? I still really like this story. Colfer's writing style is a good mix of wit and fast paced action, keeping the scenes moving quickly but allowing for emotional impact when needed. The dialogue of the characters may not always sound as easily flowing as a normal conversation, but it always feels appropriate to who they are as people. This first book is always fun to re-read, and I'm looking forward to making my way through the rest of the series (again) and seeing what becomes of Fowl.

After all; if he wins, he's a genius. If he fails, he's mad. That's how the game is played....more